Hollow particles of crosslinked melamine resin having a uniform particles diameter and a process for producing the same

ABSTRACT

A process for producing hollow particles of crosslinked melamine resin having a uniform particles diameter, said process comprising subjecting a water-soluble methyl-etherified-melamine resin precondensate to condensation reaction in the presence of a curing catalyst in an aqueous solution containing a water-soluble polymer with carboxyl groups or water-soluble copolymer of ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer, when the reaction liquid becomes turbid, adding to the reaction mixture a substance which dissolves or swells the melamine resin, and continuing the condensation reaction, if necessary.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to hollow particles of crosslinkedmelamine resin having a uniform particle diameter and to a process forproducing the same. The hollow particles are useful as an organicfiller.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Hollow particles of acrylic resin are known as shown in "KoubunshiMikuro-shashinshu, Me de miru koubunshi" (Microphotographs ofpolymers--visualized polymers), vol. 1, p. 107-108, compiled byKoubunshi Gakkai (Society of Polymer Science), published by Baifukan.However, they are inferior in heat resistance to those of thermosettingresin and hence they are not suitable for use in the application areawhere heat treatment (such as heat drying) is required.

There are known porous particles of thermosetting resin as disclosed inJapanese Patent Publication No. Sho 63-20455 (20455/1988) and JapanesePatent Laid-open No. Sho 50-122564 (122564/1975). However, there are notknown hollow particles of crosslinked thermosetting resin having auniform particle diameter exist similar products such as microcapsulesfor pressure-sensitive paper, they need a complex process and presentdifficulties in keeping the particle diameter uniform.

In addition, there are available solid particles of crosslinked resinhaving a uniform diameter. However, they are poor as a heat-insulatingfiller. Moreover, as compared with inorganic pigments, they are alsopoor as an opacifying pigment to be added to paper or paint because ofits refractive index close to that of paper or paint.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to address the above-mentioned problems, thereby to producehollow particles of crosslinked melamine resin having a uniformdiameter, the present inventors carried out extensive studies. An objectof the present invention is to provide a process which comprisessubjecting a water-soluble melamine-formaldehyde-methanol precondensateto condensation reaction in the presence of a curing catalyst such as anorganic acid in an aqueous solution containing a water-soluble polymerwith carboxyl groups or a water-soluble copolymer of ethylenicallyunsaturated carboxylic acid monomer, until the reaction liquid becomesturbid due to the formation of particles, adding to the reaction mixturea solvent or substance which dissolves or swells the melamine resincondensate forming the particles, with or without dilution with areactive solvent after the addition of the solvent or substance, andcontinuing the reaction until the completion of the reaction.

In other words, the present invention was completed on the basis offindings that the hollow particles of crosslinked melamine resin havinga uniform diameter can be obtained in two steps. In the first step, amelamine-formaldehyde precondensate which has been methyl-etherifiedmore than 10% with methanol undergoes condensation at a certain reactionrate by the aid of a readily available protective colloid selected fromcarboxyl group containing polymers such as a copolymer of acrylamide ormethacrylamide with acrylic acid or methacrylic acid, a partialhydrolyzate of acrylamide and/or methacrylamide, and a saponifiedproduct of acrylonitrile. This protective colloid contributes to theformation of particles having a uniform particle diameter. In the secondstep, the reaction mixture is given a solvent or substance whichdissolves or swells the melamine resin condensate constituting theparticles, and if necessary, the reaction mixture is subsequentlydiluted with a reactive solvent, so that the particles are made hollow.

EFFECT OF THE INVENTION

Thus, according to the present invention, hollow particles ofcrosslinked melamine resin having a uniform particle diameter can beprovided. They do not dissolve and swell in alcohols such as methanoland ethanol, and organic solvents such as xylene, toluene, ethylacetate, and acetone. In addition, they do not melt and stick duringheat treatment at 200° C. Because of these characteristic properties,they will find use as a light weight, inexpensive organic filler invarious application areas.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a micrograph showing the structure of the hollow particles ofcrosslinked melamine resin obtained in Example 1.

FIG. 2 is a micrograph showing the structure of the hollow particles ofcrosslinked melamine resin obtained in Example 2.

FIG. 3 is a micrograph showing the structure of the hollow particles ofcrosslinked melamine resin obtained in Example 3.

These micrographs (×400) were taken using a differential interferencemicroscope (BH-2, made by Olympus Co., Ltd.) which creates athree-dimensional image.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, the hollow particles of crosslinkedmelamine resin having a uniform diameter are produced in the followingmanner. First, a precondensate of methyl-etherified melamine resinundergoes condensation reaction to give particles of crosslinkedmelamine resin having a uniform diameter. The condensation reaction isperformed in an aqueous solution adjusted to a certain pH at 20°-70° C.While the crosslinking reaction for the melamine resin constituting theparticles does not proceed too far, the reaction mixture is given asolvent or substance which dissolves or swells the crosslinked melamineresin condensate constituting the particles, so that the particles aremade hollow. If necessary, the reaction mixture is further diluted witha reactive solvent and the crosslinking reaction is continued while theparticles are kept hollow. The precondensate is one which is readilyavailable and commonly used as a fiber treatment or paper reinforcer.The aqueous solution contains a copolymer of acrylamide ormethacrylamide with acrylic acid or methacrylic acid, a partialhydrolyzate of acrylamide or methacrylamide, or a saponified product ofacrylonitrile, which are commonly used as a polymeric flocculating agentor internal paper reinforcer. The pH adjustment is accomplished by anorganic acid such as acetic acid, oxalic acid, formic acid, andparatoluenesulfonic acid, or an inorganic acid such as sulfuric acid andhydrochloric acid, which functions as a curing agent. The preferred pHis in the ranges of 5 to 8. The reaction temperature is easy to attain.

As mentioned above, the process of the present invention employs awater-soluble melamine-formaldehyde-methanol precondensate. It may be acommercially available methyl etherified melamine resin used for fibertreatment as explained above. It may also be a water-solubleprecondensate obtained in the usual way which has a degree of methyletherification higher than 10% which is defined as the ratio (%) of thenumber of methyl ether groups to the total amount of the number ofmethylol groups formed by the reaction of melamine and formaldehyde,methyl ether groups formed by the reaction of methylol group withmethanol, and unreacted amino groups in melamine. The degree of methyletherification is determined by ¹³ C-NMR according to the procedurereported by B. Tomita and H. Ono, J. Polym. Sci. Polm. Chem. Ed., 17,3205 (1979). With a precondensate which is not methyl etherified or hasa degree of methyl etherification lower than 10%, it is difficult toproduce particles having a uniform particle diameter because of theexcessively fast condensation reaction and it is even impossible to makethe particles hollow. Incidentally, formaldehyde may be used in the formof formalin, trioxane, or paraformaldehyde which generates formaldehyde.

The process of the present invention employs, as a protective colloid, awater-soluble copolymer of ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acidmonomer, a preferred example of which is a copolymer of acrylic acid ormethacrylic acid or a sodium salt thereof with acrylamide ormethacrylamide. The copolymer may contain additional comonomers, e.g.,vinyl monomer (other than the above-mentioned monomers) in an amount notharmful to its water solubility. Examples of such comonomers includemaleic acid, vinylsulfonic acid, itaconic acid, or a salt thereof,N-methylolacrylamide, hydroxyethyl acrylate, and vinylpyrrolidone, whichgive rise to water-soluble polymers, and styrene, acrylo-nitrile, andmethyl methacrylate, which give rise to water-insoluble polymers.However, the above-specified water-soluble copolymer cannot be replacedby a carboxyl group-free polymer such as acrylamide homopolymer andmethacrylamide homopolymer or a commonly used water-soluble polymer suchas polyvinyl alcohol and CMC). They will not help produce the particlesof crosslinked melamine resin having uniform particle diameter but theywill cause agglomeration or stick to the reactor wall during reaction,giving rise to coarse irregular particles. The protective colloid shouldbe used in an amount of 0.01-30 parts by weight, preferably 0.1-5 partsby weight, for 100 parts by weight of the water-solublemelamine-formaldehyde-methanol precondesate. With an amount in excess of30 parts by weight, the protective colloid cannot be uniformly mixedwith reactants by simple stirring. Incidentally, the protective colloidmay be used in the form of previously prepared aqueous solution.

The process of the present invention employs, as a curing catalyst, anacid which includes carboxylic acids such as oxalic acid, formic acid,acetic acid, succinic acid, malic acid, citric acid, and tartaric acid,and ammonium salts thereof, sulfonic acids such as paratoluenesulfonicacid and metaxylenesulfonic acid, and inorganic acids such ashydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, and nitric acid, and ammonium saltsthereof. Preferable among them are carboxylic acids such as oxalic acid,formic acid, and acetic acid, which permits the easy pH adjustment ofthe aqueous solution. They should preferably be used in the form ofpreviously prepared aqueous solution. The carboxylic acids may be usedin combination with other acids or ammonium salts thereof.

The process of the present invention should be performed at pH 5-8. Whenthe pH is less than 5.0, the reaction proceeds too fast to giveparticles having a uniform diameter and to make the particles hollow.When the pH is more than 8.0, the reaction is too slow to give thedesired hollow particles at a reasonable cost in a simple manner. Theprocess of the present invention should be performed at 20°-70° C.,preferably 40°-60° C. With a temperature lower than 20° C., the reactionis too slow to give the desired particles within a reasonable period oftime. With a temperature higher than 70° C., the reaction proceeds toofast to give particles having a uniform diameter and to make theparticles hollow.

The process of the present invention should be performed in water as asolvent. Other solvents than water that can be used includewater-miscible solvents such as methanol, ethanol, diethylene glycol,and glycerin. Even though these organic solvents are merely present whenthe reaction starts, they do not make particles hollow; but theabove-mentioned steps are necessary to make particles hollow.

The invention will be described in more detail with reference to thefollowing examples.

EXAMPLE 1

In a four-neck flask equipped with a stirrer, reflux condenser,thermometer, and nitrogen blow inlet were placed 1275 parts by weight ofwater, 75 parts by weight of methacrylic acid, 150 parts by weight ofacrylamide, and 96 parts by weight of 25% NaOH aqueous solution. Thereactants were stirred for 30 minutes with nitrogen gas blowing. Then,the temperature of the reaction mixture was raised to 35° C. andammonium persulfate and sodium hydrogen sulfite as polymerizationinitiators were added, and polymerization was carried out for aprescribed period of time. Thus there was obtained a copolymer in theform of a clear viscous aqueous solution which contained 16% evaporationresidue after treatment at 105° C. for 3 hours.

In a four-neck flask equipped with a simple stirrer, reflux condenser,and thermometer were placed 6.5 parts by weight of the copolymer aqueoussolution, 395 parts by weight of water, and 200 parts by weight ofmethyl etherified melamine resin for fiber treatment (ML-725, containing73% solids and having a degree of methyl etherification of about 50%,made by Honen Corporation). After mild stirring at 50-100 rpm, theresulting aqueous solution was adjusted to pH 5.8 with 1.4 ml of 50%aqueous solution of acetic acid. With the temperature raised to 60° C.,reaction was carried out. Ten minutes later, the reaction liquid becameturbid due to the formation of particles of crosslinked melamine resinhaving a uniform particle diameter. After continued reaction for 20minutes, there were added 200 parts by weight of methanol and 400 partsby weight of water. Reaction was continued at 60° C. Thus there wasobtained a suspension of hollow particles of crosslinked melamine resin.The hollow particles has the structure as shown by a micrograph in FIG.1.

EXAMPLE 2

The procedure for reaction in Example 1 was repeated except that themelamine resin (ML-725 made by Honen Corporation) was replaced by 200parts by weight of a melamine resin containing 80% solids and having adegree of methyl etherification of about 35% prepared by the processmentioned in "Polymer Experiments", vol. 5, "Polycondensation andPolyaddition", p. 490-491, compiled by S. Kanbara (published by KyoritsuShuppan). After reaction at 60° C. for 10 minutes, the reaction liquidbecame turbid. After continued reaction for 30 minutes, there were added250 parts by weight of glycerin and 350 parts by weight of water.Reaction was continued at 60° C. Thus there was obtained a suspension ofhollow particles of crosslinked melamine resin. The hollow particles hadthe structure as shown by a micrograph in FIG. 2.

EXAMPLE 3

The procedure for reaction in Example 1 was repeated by charging 6.5parts by weight of the copolymer aqueous solution, 200 parts by weightof melamine resin (ML-725, made by Honen Corporation), and 390 parts byweight of water. The resulting aqueous solution was adjusted to pH 6.5with 10% oxalic acid solution. After reaction at 60° C. for 15 minutes,the reaction liquid became turbid. Thirty minutes later, 200 parts byweight of glycerin was added and reaction was continued at 60° C. Thusthere was obtained a suspension of hollow particles of crosslinkedmelamine resin. The hollow particles had the structure as shown by amicrograph in FIG. 3.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 1

Reaction was carried out in the same manner as in Example 1 except thatthe aqueous solution of copolymer was replaced by 20 parts by weight of10 wt % aqueous solution of acrylamide homopolymer. In the middle of thereaction, agglomeration took place, eventually giving rise to a singlelump.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 2

Reaction was carried out in the same manner as in Example 1 except thatthe melamine resin (ML-725, made by Honen Corporation) was replaced by amelamine-formaldehyde-water precondensate containing 50% solids andhaving a degree of etherification of 0%. The reaction gave rise toparticles of crosslinked resin having uneven particle diameters, with abroad distribution from 1 to 100 μm. The particles were not hollow butsolid.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 3

Reaction was carried out in the same manner as in Example 3 except thatthe aqueous solution of copolymer was replaced by 10% aqueous solutionof commercial polyvinyl alcohol (PVA-217, made by Kuraray Co., Ltd.).The reaction gave rise to some agglomerates as well as particles havinguneven particle diameters over a broad distribution. The particlescontained very few hollow ones.

What is claimed is:
 1. A process for producing hollow particles ofcrosslinked melamine formaldehyde resin having a uniform particlediameter, said process comprising subjecting a water-solublemelamine-formaldehyde-methanol precondensate to condensation reaction inthe presence of a curing catalyst, said curing catalyst comprised of anorganic acid, in an aqueous solution containing a water-soluble polymerwith carboxyl groups or a water-soluble copolymer of ethylenicallyunsaturated carboxylic acid monomer until the reaction liquid becomesturbid due to the formation of particles; adding to the reaction mixturea solvent or substance which dissolves or swells the melamine resincondensate forming the particles; optionally diluting the mixture with areactive solvent after the addition of the solvent or substance; andallowing the reaction to go to completion.
 2. A process for producinghollow particles of crosslinked melamine formaldehyde resin as claimedin claim 1, wherein the condensation reaction for water-solublemelamine-formaldehyde-methanol precondensate is carried out at 20°-70°C. in an aqueous solution containing a water-soluble polymer withcarboxyl groups or a water-soluble copolymer of ethylenicallyunsaturated carboxylic acid monomer, said aqueous solution beingadjusted to pH 5-8 with a curing catalyst such as an organic acid, andthe solvent or substance which dissolves or swells the melamine resincondensate forming the particles is added within at least 1 hour afterthe reaction liquid has become turbid due to the formation of particles,with or without dilution with a reactive solvent after the addition ofthe solvent or substance, thereby making the particles hollow, and thereaction is continued.
 3. A process for producing hollow particles ofcrosslinked melamine formaldehyde resin as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe water-soluble precondensate is a melamine-formaldehyde precondensatein which the ratio of methyl etherification is higher than 10%.
 4. Aprocess for producing hollow particles of crosslinked melamineformaldehyde resin as claimed in claim 1, wherein the water-solublepolymer with carboxyl groups is a partial hydrolyzate of acrylamideand/or methacrylamide polymer or a saponified product of acrylonitrilepolymer.
 5. A process for producing hollow particles of crosslinkedmelamine formaldehyde resin as claimed in claim 1, wherein thewater-soluble copolymer of ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acidmonomer is a copolymer of acrylic acid and/or methacrylic acid or asodium salt thereof with acrylamide and/or methacrylamide.
 6. A processfor producing hollow particles of crosslinked melamine formaldehyderesin as claimed in claim 1, the solvent or substance which dissolves orswells the melamine resin condensate is an alcohol such as methanol,ethanol, and butanol, a glycol such as diethylene glycol and glycerin,or a melamine-formaldehyde precondensate in which the ratio of methyletherification is higher than 10%.